Comments on: The Use of Stock Photos on Church Websites http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/ A virtual notebook of Christian expression, journey, and study. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:19:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Church Web designer http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-17657 Church Web designer Fri, 02 May 2008 14:33:51 +0000 http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-17657 I feel your comments... I wouldn't go so far as to say that using stock photos are hypocritical though. What about the doctors that use stock photos in their publications of happy clients. I hope you don't think that all the advetisements in papers show people that actually work within the company... most of the time they are hired actors and models who are paid to hold a can of hairspray or smile and point to the car. The photos represent a demographic or type of people who would use the product or attend the business. Its pure marketing and a true marketer would know that. I do agree that using actual images of people in the business or church is best, but to call these churches that do hypocritical is not fair. The church may not even have a photographer that can capture the images of the people as well as professional photographer can. It may be more affordable for the church to pay the dollar or two to buy a photo of a family. Also the members may feel uncomfortable about having their picture online. What do you do then... publish a boring uninviting site on the web with no pictures or images for people to relate to?? I've used stock photos for church websites and never paid more than a $2.00 for them. You have to know how to shop around and be a good stewart of the church's money. Why does everyone automatically want to beat up on churches anyhow? I feel your comments… I wouldn’t go so far as to say that using stock photos are hypocritical though. What about the doctors that use stock photos in their publications of happy clients. I hope you don’t think that all the advetisements in papers show people that actually work within the company… most of the time they are hired actors and models who are paid to hold a can of hairspray or smile and point to the car. The photos represent a demographic or type of people who would use the product or attend the business. Its pure marketing and a true marketer would know that.

I do agree that using actual images of people in the business or church is best, but to call these churches that do hypocritical is not fair. The church may not even have a photographer that can capture the images of the people as well as professional photographer can. It may be more affordable for the church to pay the dollar or two to buy a photo of a family. Also the members may feel uncomfortable about having their picture online. What do you do then… publish a boring uninviting site on the web with no pictures or images for people to relate to??

I’ve used stock photos for church websites and never paid more than a $2.00 for them. You have to know how to shop around and be a good stewart of the church’s money. Why does everyone automatically want to beat up on churches anyhow?

]]> By: netroads » Blog Archive » The Use of Stock Photos on Church Websites http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-12585 netroads » Blog Archive » The Use of Stock Photos on Church Websites Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:41:11 +0000 http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-12585 [...] the details here Filed under: stock [...] [...] the details here Filed under: stock [...]

]]> By: Emma http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-7279 Emma Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:39:25 +0000 http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-7279 I apologize that I haven't read all the comments so I may border on repetitive. I help with my church's website and we've only used photos of the congregation, but we didn't even think about putting stock photos up, because our site is mostly geared towards the actual congregation. We're doing a building project so a big part of the site is updates on that (which of course we use pictures of the project for). Speaking as a designer, I don't feel like it's necessary to have photos of people on every page in a website... it's more important to have photos that are relevant to that page's content. I apologize that I haven’t read all the comments so I may border on repetitive. I help with my church’s website and we’ve only used photos of the congregation, but we didn’t even think about putting stock photos up, because our site is mostly geared towards the actual congregation. We’re doing a building project so a big part of the site is updates on that (which of course we use pictures of the project for). Speaking as a designer, I don’t feel like it’s necessary to have photos of people on every page in a website… it’s more important to have photos that are relevant to that page’s content.

]]> By: Kathi Sharpe http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6924 Kathi Sharpe Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:26:39 +0000 http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6924 I've used hundreds of stock photos (tho generally not for church sites) and never paid a dime. There's many websites offering them for free or as linkware - sxc.hu is one big one (they have pay-for photoz too). Google "free stock photos" and you'll come up with some sites. Unless you really, really, really, really, really want a particular picture, you shouldn't have to pay for it when there's so many places to get it for free. I’ve used hundreds of stock photos (tho generally not for church sites) and never paid a dime. There’s many websites offering them for free or as linkware - sxc.hu is one big one (they have pay-for photoz too).

Google “free stock photos” and you’ll come up with some sites.

Unless you really, really, really, really, really want a particular picture, you shouldn’t have to pay for it when there’s so many places to get it for free.

]]> By: Shawn Anthony http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6780 Shawn Anthony Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:22:58 +0000 http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6780 Stock photos can be expensive, Tim. Very expensive at times. The second part of your comment raises good points too. I'm not totally sure, however, that authenticity is ever a motivator in some of the sites I've seen. I think it is purely marketing in most cases (i.e., marketing a very specific but narrow idea or vision of what church is in a particular community setting). This of course opens up the can of theology I've been been trying to get at in this post. :) Stock photos can be expensive, Tim. Very expensive at times. The second part of your comment raises good points too. I’m not totally sure, however, that authenticity is ever a motivator in some of the sites I’ve seen. I think it is purely marketing in most cases (i.e., marketing a very specific but narrow idea or vision of what church is in a particular community setting). This of course opens up the can of theology I’ve been been trying to get at in this post. :)

]]> By: Tim Hoover http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6779 Tim Hoover Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:14:40 +0000 http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6779 Interesting question and conversation. How about is using stock photos on a church website good stewardship of funds? Often they are expensive and better images can be taken with a descent camera and a good sense of composition. As far as authenticity...the only true way to reach this may be candid photojournalism of the congregation in action. Does posing a family from your church, make the message more real than using a posed family from a stock catalog? Probably not. It just makes the people recognizable to others within the congregation. Interesting question and conversation.
How about is using stock photos on a church website good stewardship of funds? Often they are expensive and better images can be taken with a descent camera and a good sense of composition. As far as authenticity…the only true way to reach this may be candid photojournalism of the congregation in action. Does posing a family from your church, make the message more real than using a posed family from a stock catalog? Probably not. It just makes the people recognizable to others within the congregation.

]]> By: Shawn Anthony http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6560 Shawn Anthony Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:51:01 +0000 http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6560 @oh amanda: I can understand your intrigue. I can also understand using a - one - stock photo of a person on a church site. I was talking about a site plastered with a bunch of stock of people no where to be found in the church. @oh amanda: I can understand your intrigue. I can also understand using a - one - stock photo of a person on a church site. I was talking about a site plastered with a bunch of stock of people no where to be found in the church.

]]> By: oh amanda http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6558 oh amanda Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:42:02 +0000 http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6558 I'm really intrigued that this is such a conversation. I guess I understand it a little seeing as you are planting a church. And I appreciate that you are thinking about every facet of your church. But, I just don't understand why it would be "false" advertising. I don't think there is a person alive who looks at an advertisement and says, "That guy isn't really enjoying that food. He's just an actor." Pictures are just there to help you visualize or understand...they just ADD TO the rest. So, if I can put up a stock photo that is QUALITY rather than my picture from my disposable 35mm, I'm going to put up the stock photo! Would someone who's looking to go to your church really come in one day (after visiting your site) and say, "hmmm. I don't see that guy that was on the website. What a bunch of hypocrites!" Maybe I'm just not understanding the question... I’m really intrigued that this is such a conversation. I guess I understand it a little seeing as you are planting a church. And I appreciate that you are thinking about every facet of your church. But, I just don’t understand why it would be “false” advertising. I don’t think there is a person alive who looks at an advertisement and says, “That guy isn’t really enjoying that food. He’s just an actor.” Pictures are just there to help you visualize or understand…they just ADD TO the rest. So, if I can put up a stock photo that is QUALITY rather than my picture from my disposable 35mm, I’m going to put up the stock photo! Would someone who’s looking to go to your church really come in one day (after visiting your site) and say, “hmmm. I don’t see that guy that was on the website. What a bunch of hypocrites!” Maybe I’m just not understanding the question…

]]> By: Shawn Anthony http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6411 Shawn Anthony Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:27:55 +0000 http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6411 @WoshipCity: Great story! I really appreciate the fact that you and your church gave this some thought. I think it is a serious issue that more churches should consider. You and your church are inspirational! That is a great story. On one hand, it's quite funny, but on the other hand, it's a little sad because that guy was looking for something deeper. Well, at least you guys learned and acted on it. Good for you! @WoshipCity: Great story! I really appreciate the fact that you and your church gave this some thought. I think it is a serious issue that more churches should consider. You and your church are inspirational!

That is a great story. On one hand, it’s quite funny, but on the other hand, it’s a little sad because that guy was looking for something deeper. Well, at least you guys learned and acted on it. Good for you!

]]> By: WorshipCity http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6368 WorshipCity Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:18:41 +0000 http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/09/14/the-use-of-stock-photos-on-church-websites/#comment-6368 Never, ever, did I imagine I would be considering stock imagery for a church's website much less the theological implications of such, so thank you! I have utilized some new brain cells :) As soon as I read this, I checked our website and regardless, what a relief, we do NOT use stock imagery of people on ours! I did bring this up with our Jack-of-All-Trades staffer who does our website and asked her opinion. She said this: "Hmmm, you know I don't know if I've done that online or not. I sure try not to and can't remember a time when I've done it recently at least. I did it once on a mailer we sent out one time. We fixed a bunch of images on the sidebar of the flier and this guy came to our event. He was hacked off because he got the impression that our church was really diverse and multi-cultural because of the images and it was really a bunch of white people! He made sure to complain to (our pastor) and never came back." I'm still laughing at that. It is our church's stance to be multi-cultural and diverse and we are much more so now. HOWEVER, we were a church plant, planted by middle-aged white couples in an area where predominantly middle aged white people live and so in the beginning guess who was there! I thought you might get a kick out of that. Never, ever, did I imagine I would be considering stock imagery for a church’s website much less the theological implications of such, so thank you! I have utilized some new brain cells :)
As soon as I read this, I checked our website and regardless, what a relief, we do NOT use stock imagery of people on ours! I did bring this up with our Jack-of-All-Trades staffer who does our website and asked her opinion. She said this:
“Hmmm, you know I don’t know if I’ve done that online or not. I sure try not to and can’t remember a time when I’ve done it recently at least. I did it once on a mailer we sent out one time. We fixed a bunch of images on the sidebar of the flier and this guy came to our event. He was hacked off because he got the impression that our church was really diverse and multi-cultural because of the images and it was really a bunch of white people! He made sure to complain to (our pastor) and never came back.”

I’m still laughing at that. It is our church’s stance to be multi-cultural and diverse and we are much more so now. HOWEVER, we were a church plant, planted by middle-aged white couples in an area where predominantly middle aged white people live and so in the beginning guess who was there!

I thought you might get a kick out of that.

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